Founders Brewing Company

Founders Brewing Co. was started in 1996 when Grand Rapids, MI natives Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, who quit their jobs and took out sizable loans to make their dreams come true. Mike and Dave wanted to make the beer that they liked -- big bodied, in-your-face ales with complex flavors, large aromatics and above all, tons of flavor. This taste for something bigger struck a chord with beer drinkers throughout Michigan (and the across the world) and their full-flavored brews were a success. As a “thank you” to the Michigan community that has supported them over the last two decades, Founders hosts their annual “Founders Fest,” a massive celebration of food, music, art and of course, craft beer. It’s easy to see why Grand Rapids is so proud of Founders Brewing; they have won six World Beer Cup medals, three European Beer Star medals and two Great American Beer Festival medals in the past decade. With the pace they’re going, Founders doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon, with distribution in 25 states and a production capacity topping 340,000 barrels per year. At Founders, their focus is to offer a product that stands alone on the shelf and offers a true drinking experience to their friends: you.